Just published, the maritime biennial report outlines the UK government’s maritime achievements for 2019 to 2021. It compares them against the priorities of the 2018 to 2019 maritime annual report.
The following text is the introduction taken from the report itself. Maritime is the key transport mode underpinning international trade, securing the vital supply of fuel and food needed to keep the nation running, and is at the forefront of responding to the global technological, environmental and economic challenges and opportunities that we are facing.
Maritime UK estimates that the maritime sector helped to support a total of £108.8 billion in turnover, approximately 1.1 million jobs and £21.6 billion through the compensation of employees (2017). With the role the sector plays in supporting the lives of UK citizens it will be integral to our continuing success now that we have left the European Union and move towards our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maritime 2050, published in January 2019, sent a clear message to the world that the UK has the ambition to be a leading maritime nation for the next 30 years and beyond, setting out the strategic framework which informs Government policy and gives confidence to potential investors in the UK economy. This report sets out how the Government has continued to work with the maritime industry to deliver this strategy. It also outlines our ambitions for the next 12 months, demonstrating that the Government will not compromise on delivering the vital services that make the UK a safe and secure place to do business, while tackling the additional challenges faced by the sector.
In the past year, the sector has seen unanticipated and unparalleled difficulties during the global COVID-19 pandemic; it has also risen to meet these challenges. Crisis-led work has been prioritised in the last year, recognising the urgency in maintaining the flow of critical goods throughout the transition period and in light of increased safety requirements.
This report covers some of the exceptional work that has taken place under great pressure, but also outlines how our strategic priorities will be progressed over the next 12 months. The long-term vision of Maritime 2050 remains just as relevant as when it was first published. However, it must be acknowledged that to ensure a successful recovery from COVID-19, the maritime sector needs support in specific areas in order to guarantee a recovery which allows for post COVID-19 growth. As the country restarts, recovers, and Builds Back Better following COVID-19, Maritime 2050 remains a crucial shared commitment between Government and industry.
Download the full 80 page report: Maritime biennial report